Wine & Dine Itinerary
Enjoy a smorgasbord of epicurean delights in Monterey County. Dine on sustainable seafood straight from Monterey's harbors. Tour a farm, then feast on its organic produce at local restaurants. Buy wine straight from the winemaker, then picnic amidst the grapevines. Use the following itinerary as inspiration for your own private food and wine celebration.
Friday
6pm
You'll check in at Bernardus Lodge
, a resort nestled between the vineyards of Carmel Valley that produces fine wines of its own. Bernardus is known in epicurean circles as the home of Mobil four-star Marinus Restaurant, and is the perfect home for the dedicated foodie.
7:30pm
Passionfish in Pacific Grove has been known for years as a leader in the sustainable seafood movement. Chef Ted Walter uses local, organic produce to bring out the flavors of both seafood and delectable slow-cooked meats. Their award-winning wine list also has a notable price philosophy — most wines are priced at retail. This much-lauded restaurant is the perfect place for your first Monterey County meal.
Saturday
Carmel Valley is just a short drive away from the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, which is a fine dining hub all its own. Today you'll take a brief journey into Carmel-by-the-Sea, followed by a food and wine tour of Carmel Valley led by an insider.
On Waking
Every vacation should include breakfast in bed — especially if that breakfast is made by Wickets Bistro at Bernardus Lodge. Make sure to try the pancakes.
10:30am
Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of the world's finest shopping destinations, with tony stores that include many art galleries. There's culinary adventure to be had here, too. Stop by the Carmel Plaza for cheese tasting, then stroll down the street for wine tasting at Galante Vineyards.
Noon
Carmel-by-the-Sea's Aubergine Restaurant was named one of the top new restaurants in the nation and has appeared on many other "best" lists. The truly adventurous foodie will ask Chef de Cuisine Justin Cogley to create a tasting menu for him or her for a true adventurous journey through Monterey County's seasonal ingredients.
2pm
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Monterey County's food and wine is grown on a journey with Ag Venture Tours. Your knowledgeable guide will take you to three Carmel Valley wineries and Earthbound Farm, the world’s largest grower of organic produce. At every stop, he will give you insight into how everything is produced.
8:45pm
Both the food and the view are magnificent at Post Ranch Inn’s famous Sierra Mar Restaurant. Tables command a breathtaking view of the Big Sur coastline, and the exquisite four-course prix-fixe menu will take your palate on a tour of all that Monterey County has to offer.
Sunday
Finish your culinary tour of Monterey County with some local produce and the cioppino that defeated Bobby Flay.
9am
Carmel's From Scratch is aptly named. This restaurant, tucked away in a corner of the Barnyard shopping center, makes everything on their menu from scratch. Make sure to try their omelettes and their homemade granola — you can even pick up a bag of the granola to bring home.
11am
After trying all this fantastic, locally grown produce, you may want to bring home some of your own. Fortunately for you, there's a farmers' market in Monterey County five days of the week. Today's farmers' market is the Everyone's Harvest Certified Farmers' Market in Marina, an especially convenient stop if you're heading north to go home.
12:30pm
Phil's Fish Market is in what looks like an unassuming Moss Landing warehouse. But this building has become a landmark for seafood lovers. Phil's Fish Market has been lauded on several television shows, including the Food Network's Road Tasted. Most notably, however, Phil went mano a mano with famed celebrity chef Bobby Flay on "Throwdown," and made a cioppino that even Flay couldn't match. Make sure to stop in before you leave Monterey County and try the cioppino that bested Bobby Flay.
Sign up for
Order a Free Visitors Guide
Get Here
